Pocket scale



J. H. WlLY lfr WLI POCKET SCALE Filed April 21, 1931 l .HHHIHIIM May 5, 1936.'

Patented May 5, 1936 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a small size scale designed for weighing articles and packages of comparatively light weight such as letters, parcels post packages and the like. It

is designed for use primarily as a pocket or desk article and is therefore constructed and designed so as to telescope into a comparatively small compass. The scale includes a case or casing, one end of which may be weighted or provided with a weight if necessary, and into which a beam member is adjustably movable. The casing is provided with a pivotal support or fulcrum near one end and the beam member is provided at its end with means for engaging or supporting the article to be weighed. The beam member may be entirely telescoped within the casing and is provided with suitable designations indicating weight with a suitable sight point which is preferably provided bythe end of the case or casing. The beam member may be provided with a plurality of spaced recesses so as to insure a more or less fixed adjustment in certain denite positions.

in order to provide a greater range of weights and permit telescoping the article into a smaller compass, the scale may be in the form of a plurality of cases or casings and a telescopic beam member arranged therein, the smaller cases or casings telescoping within the larger ones. 3 The parts of this article may be made of various materials such as celluloid, paper, metal and the like and may be made of one piece constructions or of several pieces suitably secured and connected together. The form of the case or casing may vary as desired, as may the adjustable beam so that the article may have somewhat the appearance of a pocket comb in a case or of a pen or pencil or other similar articles.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and then sought to be defined in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and which shows, merely for the purpose of illustrative disclosure, several embodiments of my invention, it being expressly understood, however, that various changes may be made in practice within the scope of the claims without digressing from my inventive idea.

In the drawing- Figure l represents a side elevation of one form of scale constructed to embody my invention with the beam shown in its extended position.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse cross section taken substantially on line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l of a modified form of construction, the beam being shown in a partially extended position.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse cross section taken substantially on line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of another embodiment of my invention; and

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse cross section taken substantially on line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral I designates an elongated hollow case or casing which is adapted to serve as the weight member of a balance scale and which may be provided within its extreme end with a suitable weight member 2 which also serves as means for spacing the two sides oi the case or casing apart to provide a pocket or recess to receive the slidable beam member 3. As shown in Figure l, this beam member is in the form of a flat strip or piece of material and provided with the elongated intermediate longitudinal slot 4 which is preferably enlarged at suitable spaced intervals to provide depressions 5. This beam is provided at its outer end with a clasp or other suitable member 5 adapted to hold or support a letter i or other article to be weighed.

The casing I may be formed of the two side members 8, see Figure 2, the upper and lower edges of which may be bent inwardly as at 9 to afford a spacing medium for the sides s and thus provide the recess or socket for the beam member 3. A bolt or rivet I0 is passed through both sides of the casing I at or near its outer or open end and this bolt or rivet is also passed through the elongated slot in the beam member 3. This member I0 serves as a iulcrum or support upon which the scale is balanced and is preferably headed on each end as at II to facilitate holding by means of a persons fingers. Or a bail or other suitable member may be connected thereto for purposes of support or suspension. It is to be noted that this bolt or rivet is located at or near the center line of the article as a whole so as to give a delicate balance.

The ends of the side members Ei oi casing i may be cut away as at I2, see Figure l, and provided with the sight points I3 on which a reading is made of the indicia on the beam 3. These indicia may indicate weight or may indicate the postage rate. In addition, both the beam and the casing may be provided with other indicia for giving linear measurements so that the article as a whole can be used as a measure and also a ruler. The recess or opening I2 provides a ringer hold for facilitating the withdrawal movement of the beam member when it is in its innermost position. The slot 4 in the beam member 3 and the bolt or rivet IIJ cooperate to limit the inward and outward movement of the beam member' relative to the casing, and the beam member may be xedly adjusted by having the bolt or rivet fit Within any one of the depressions 5. In this way it can be readily determined whether or not additional postage is needed without the necessity of accurately weighing the article. While the beam member is readily slidable and adjustable in the casing I, it is to be understood that it iits suiiiciently tight enough to give sufficient frictional engagement to insure the parts being held in adjusted position against unintentional displacement.

In the form of article shown in Figure 3, the construction is substantially the same as that of Figure 1 with the exception that another' and larger casing I4 is provided in Which casing I and its beam 3 telescope. This gives provision for greater variation in adjustability and enables the device to be telescoped into a relatively smaller compass as compared to its total extended length. When the device is used as a scale as shown in Fig. 1, one set of graduations is used, and when the device is used as shown in Fig. 3, the other set of graduations is used. As the details of construction of this ligure are substantially the same as those shown in Figure 1, it is not believed that any additional description is necessary.

In the form of article shown in Figure 5, I provide a casing I5 which is in the form of a tube or cylinder closed at one end and open at the other to receive the slidable beam member I6. This beam member is shaped in cross section to correspond to and fit within the tube or cylinder I5. Its lit is sufficiently tight so as to insure the parts against accidental displacement when adjusted, this being due to the frictional engagement of the beam with the tube or cylinder. The closed end of the tube or cylinder is provided with a clasp II or other suitable means for supporting the letter or article to be weighed. The open end is provided with a plurality of rivets I8 arranged diametrically opposite each other to provide finger holds and also the fulcrum upon which the scale as a whole pivots. It is obvious that instead of two rivets I8, a single rivet may be used passing entirely through the cylinder from side to side, in which event the beam member I6 will be provided with a slot substantially shown in Figures 1 and 3. This form of device may be made in various shapes such as tubular, square and polygonal. In this particular form the adjustable beam member IB is weighted and serves as the Weight member and counterweight as well.

The operation of this device is obvious. The article to be weighed is supported by the clasp 6 or II and the movable member adjusted while the scale as a whole is held by the fingers or any other suitable support. When a balance is obtained, a reading of the indicia gives the weight of the article or the amount of the postage required. Or the movable member may be adjusted in any one of its xed adjustable positions and the article weighed so as to determine the maximum amount of postage required for that particular article.

The article may be made of various materials such as celluloid, cardboard, metals and so forth.

Due to the telescopic construction thereof, it takes up a small amount of space and is readily adjustable to accurately weigh articles of various kinds and weight, of course Within limits as far as the weight is concerned. The construction is particularly adapted for use as a pocket postal weight scale to be carried in the pocket, purse or pocketbook by salesmen and the like. It is obvious that it may also be used in the home or ollice.

What I claim is:

1. A scale for Weighing articles of relatively light weight comprising an elongated balance member in the form of a casing open at one end, a slidable beam member adapted to be moved into and out of said casing and provided with indice-s along its length adapted to register and be read in connection with the end of the casing as a sight point, means for supporting an article to be weighed at the outer end of sait slidable beam member, means connected to the casing near one end to provide a iulcrum for the scale as a whole, said beam having a longitudinal slot provided therein and said fulcrum means passing through said slot.

2. A scale for weighing articles of relatively light weight comprising an elongated balance member in the form of a casing open at one end. a slidable beam member adapted to be moved into and out of said casing and provided with indices along its length adapted to register and be read in connection with the end of the casing as a sight point, means for supporting an article to be weighed at the outer end of said slidable beam member, means connected to the casing near one end to provide a fulcrum for the scale as a whole, said beam having a longitudinal slot provided therein and said fulcrum means passing through said slot, said slot being provided with a plurality of spaced depressions to provide points of definite adjustment for said beam.

3. A pocket weight scale comprising an elon gated casing open at one end and adapted to serve as a balance member, a beam member adapted to telescope or slide inwardly and outwardly of said casing and having means on its outer end for supporting an article to be weighed, said beam member being provided with indices adapted to be read with the end of the casing as a sight point, and means connected to said casing near one end to provide a fulcrum for the scale as a Whole, said means being located adjacent the center line of the casing as a whole and comprising a pivot passing through said casing.

4. A pocket weight scale comprising an elongated casing open at one end and adapted to serve as a balance member, a beam member adapted to telescope or slide inwardly and outwardly of said casing and having means on its outer end for supporting an article to be weighed, said beam member being provided with indices adapted to be read with the end of the casing as a sight point, and means connected to said casing near one end to provide a fulcrum for the scale as a Whole, said casing being weighted at one end and said beam member having a slot extending longitudinally therein and receiving said fulcrum means.

5. A scale for weighing articles of relatively light weight comprising an elongated balance member in the form of a casing open at one end, a slidable beam member adapted to be moved into and out of said casing and provided with indices along its length adapted to register and be read in connection with the end of the casing as a sight point, means for supporting an article to be weighed at the outer end of said slidable beam member, and pin means in said casing near the open end thereof to afford a fulcrum for the scale as a whole, said beam member being provided with slot means to receive said pin means for limiting the withdrawal movement of said slidable beam member.

6. A scale for Weighing articles of relatively light weight, comprising an elongated balance member in the form of a casing open at one end, a slidable beam member adapted to be moved into and out of said casing and provided with indices along its length adapted to register and be read in connection with the end of the casing as a sight point, means for supporting an article to be weighed at the outer end of said slidable beam member, and means connected to said casing near the open end thereof to afford a fulorum for the scale as a whole, said slidable beam member being provided with a stop adapted to engage the fulcrum of the scale to prevent complete Withdrawal of the slidable beam member from the casing.

7. A scale for weighing articles of a relative light weight comprising a plurality of elongated casings telescoping one within the other and a slidable beam member adapted to be moved into and out of one of said casings, said beam member being provided with graduations along its length adapted to register and be read in connection with a sight point and means for supporting said scale as a whole for balancing purposes. 8. A light weight telescopic scale adapted for pocket and personal use and weighing of relatively light Weight articles such as postal matter and the like, comprising three members collapsible and adjustable with respect to each member, two of the members being in the form of elongated casings each open at one end and the other member being in the form of an elongated beam member movable from a collapsed to an extended position with respect to one of said casings, one of said members being Weighted to serve as a balance member and another member having means for supporting an article to be weighed from the end thereof, one of said members being provided with indices to be read in accordance with the adjustment of the members with relation to each other and supporting means upon which the scale as a whole may be balanced.

JAMES H. WILY. 

